The Sunday herald., 1887-01-16
TOO BIG A HIT.
now Reed and Dockstader Fell Ont

How Reed aud Docksiader Fell Ont.
tN.Y Y. Cor. Argonaut.l
A San Franciscan who has made great
success In New York is Charlie Reed, the
minstrel. lie Is the victim of his own
ability. Had he been stupid and common
place he would now be in the full enjoy.
ment Of a liberal salary, beloved but ig-
nored. As It is he is out. His whole ex.
perience here was amazing. When the
scheme Of establishing permanent troupe
of minstrels in New York was consummated
by the coalition of a Philadelphia soap tnan
and burnt cork celebrity named Dock
stader everybody seemed pleased. The
Comedy Theatre was rebuilt within the old
walls, and the town was fairly plastered
with the name of Dockstader. The front Of
the theatre was also decorated with IL, and
it stared at the people from electric lights
and all manner Of transparencies. When
the miustrels began their season the theatre
was crowded by all the lovers Of the old
time form of entertainment. The euphoni-
Gus name of Dockstader headed the pro.
grathtt1es In type of massive size, and he
was starred on the stage to a vast extent.
He sat on the left Of the semi circle, and
quiet little Charlie Reed was on the other
end. Reed was not known here to the ma
jority Of play goers; his name was in the
smallest type. and he did not seem anxious
to push himself forward. But he "got there
Just the same" and il was one of the most
pronounced arrivals OH record.
Two minutes after he had begun to speak
the audience was yelling with delight, and
| for week nothing was heard about town
but the hit of Charlie Reed. The papers
wrote him up TO the exclusion of every one
else in the troupe, and he took the honors
away from Dockstader without an effort.
The latter doubled the size of type and in
creased the prominence of his name in the
papers, but all without effect. Reed had
everything his own way. They began to
be known as Reeds Minstrels, instead Of
Dockstader's. Through 1t all Reed was as
quiet as mouse, while the struggles of the
head Of the show we're violent and tragic.
Finally Mr.. Dockstader began to destroy the
opportunities of his rival, until he got to a
point where he prevented him from being
ssen or heard except for five minutes in the
first act, and even then tried to steal the ap-
plauss of the man whose success CALLED him
so. But it was all futile. The echo of the
Ave minutes ovation to Reed drowned the
widest efforts of Dockstader during the rest
of the night. Finally Dockstader gave in to
his jealousy and envy, and, calling Reed to
him one day, said, uneasily:
"We've got TO part; I've just found out
your little game. You're working against
me with the idea Of starting rival show"
IA whatf', said Reed, aghast.
"An opposition TO me-"
Reed laughed, and asked him for facts ol
his informant's name. The other had moth
ing to show for his opinion. Then the
Western minstrel proved the absurdity oi
the charge, and went back to his place in
the theatre. Three nights later. while Dock.
stader was in the Gilsey House bar room,
Charles Froham, who loves a quiet joke al
times, stole up and said. mysteriously:
"Iis's goin' . do 'em.''
"Who? asked the badgered minstrel
softly.
"Charlie Reed; he's goin' y do his special
ties some night this week."
"Oh, no, he ain't," said the boss of tbt
show, loudly and confidently; ~ won't lei
him."
"But he'll do 'em in spite of you; he's goi
1t arranged so as to drop down from the file.
some night when lot of his friends are IL
front. Look out, or you II get taken It,"
Dockstader rushed off, found Reed, and
accused him on the spot of the intention o
dropping from the flies "a distance OF abou
thirty feet) In order to do his special bite
Reed stared at him in open amazement, thel
laughed outright, and walked away. Mr.
Dockstader revived his former theory abou
the mythical opposition show which Mr.
Reed was 10 establish, and said hs consid
cred 1t his duty to part with the services o
of his rival. That ended the career o
Charlie Reed, SO far as Doukstsder's Min
strels were concerned. For a week after hi,
dismissal he went regularly to the theatre il
! time for every performance, but Dockstade
| " n la AZ tau
again. About this time Reed made up hi
MUD to give up the minstrel business, as /
has long since reached its limit, and go int
comic opera and burlssque. All the come
diaus are drifting in that direction now
Mr.. Reed already has several offers TO ap
pear In comic opera. including one frou
Manager Stetson. The Dockstader Min
strels go on, but the chief charm Of the per
fornance is missing.